The announcement comes shortly after a similar pact with Russia provoked a political storm when a statement appeared to suggest Moscow’sRosatom had already been chosen to develop eight nuclear reactors worth up to $50 billion.

The statement, which followed a secretive trip to Moscow by President Jacob Zuma at the end of August, prompted allegations that the government was dodging procurement rules.

The department of energy said, however, that the pact signed with Russia was simply a preliminary agreement on nuclear cooperation and similar deals would be signed with other countries.

On Friday, Zuma’s office said the energy ministry would “sign an agreement on cooperation in the development of peaceful uses of nuclear energy” with the French government.